Round five of the World Superbike Championship sees another historic track being raced at. We are at the Autodromo Enzo E Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy. Over the last two years, Jonathan Rea has done the double here, twice. 2014 with Honda, and 2015 with Kawasaki. However, here in Italy, the hometown crowd... the Tifosi, will be out in force, as Ducati starts 1-2 on the grid for the first race of the weekend. This legendary speed palace was constructed in 1953, and modified in 2010. It is a 3 mile, counterclockwise track. This first event, will be the ninth race of the season. The air temperature before we go racing for the first race is at 20 degrees Celsius, 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Track temperature is 31 degrees Celsius, 87 degrees Fahrenheit. What a gorgeous spring day in Italy. World Superbike has raced at Imola, since 2001. However, they did not race in 2007 or 2008, because of the track being refurbished.
So, in those years, the alternate races, were held in Valencia, Spain. Jonathan Rea is pulling ahead in the championship. Chaz Davies has his first, and Ducati's first pole of 2016. We are ready to race in the first race. This is the first of two races in Italy. One event, here at Imola, and another, at the Misano Adriatico circuit. Now, we will not see Yamaha's Sylvain Guintoli racing in any events this weekend, due to the fact he had a huge crash in Super Pole 2, bringing out the red flag. Guintoli gets launched off his Yamaha, into orbit, and smashes into the pavement! Ouch! He fractured his left leg, and sustained a concussion in the incident.
Thankfully, the 2014 World Superbike champion, is OK. Guintoli was in the top twelve at the time. Jonathan Rea will start third. But, Chaz Davies, has gone to pole. Chaz Davies is on his third engine, and Jonathan Rea is as well. Tom Sykes is starting off the front row, because he has had braking issues through the weekend. At least Sykes is in a good spot, but, he needs to get a run on Jonathan Rea when the lights go out. The Ducati's are also very quick off the line. There have been directives from the FIM and Dorna on jump starts. We've seen this in MotoGP as of late, as well.
If there are jump starts, riders will be notified ASAP of their infractions. The engine info has also been revealed and how many engines have been used by certain teams already this season. Generators have to be removed within three minutes of the warm up lap, and one minute, for tire warmers. There are also practice restrictions, and test restrictions. If riders can test their WSBK equipment in the endurance races (like the Suzuka 8 Hours), going out in practi ce, but not entering the race. Jonathan Rea tested the World Endurance spec Kawasaki in Japan, last year. The loophole is being tightened, so no riders can get an advantage from it. Any testing done for the endurance races, cannot become an advantage within World Superbike competition.
We are fifteen minutes away from the race getting underway. Back in the day, Italian car makers like Ferrari, and Maserati, needed a test track. That's why this speed palace at Imola, was built. The parkland around the speedway is significant. We are in the province of Bologna, and the region of Emilia Romagna. Ducati are a part of this area of Italy, and 2016, marks the 90th anniversary of the company. Davide Giugliano starts on the front row of the grid for his home race, for the third successive year. Ducati has taken a 1-2 on the grid. So, if they lead here, and even more so if they win, the crowd will go absolutely bonkers.
Here's more, about the museum, that is within the grounds of the Imola race track. The Checco Costa Museum. Costa founded a 200 mile motorcycle race here at Imola.
http://www.centrotraduzioni.com/en/checco-costa-museum/
Again, Tom Sykes will start fourth. Daniele Manca, Mayor of Imola, presented Chaz Davies with his Tissot watch for earning pole position for the Saturday race. World Ducati Week, will take place, in July, around the same time of the coverage of World Superbike here in the U.S. at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California. Yours truly, will obviously be here, to cover that one. Lorenzo Savadori starts fifth on the grid. He made his debut in the race in Russia, in 2013, at Moscow Raceway. It was a one-off race with Pedercini. The second race, that weekend, was cancelled after a horrid accident involving Italian Andrea Antonelli in the World Supersport race.
Jordi Torres, lines up sixth on the Althea BMW S1000RR. He scored his first podium, in WSBK, here at Imola, last year, riding for Aprilia. The Aprilia, is a good bike, and it was running at the sharp end, last year, with Jordi Torres and Leon Haslam aboard. Leon Camier starts seventh on the MV Agusta 1000 F4. Markus Reiterberger starts eighth on the sister BMW S1000RR for Althea BMW. Nicky Hayden, a native of Owensboro, Kentucky, U.S.A., starts ninth, on the Honda CBR1000RR SP. Matteo Baiocco lines up tenth, on another Ducati.
Michael van der Mark, is 11th on the grid, and was beaten in qualifying by team mate, Hayden. Another Ducati rider, starts twelfth, and that is Xavi Fores. Alex Lowes is next up, on the Yamaha YZF R1. Joshua Brookes starts 14th on the Milwaukee BMW. Next up is his Milwaukee BMW team mate, Karel Abraham. Up next on the grid, is the Aprilia RSV4 with Alex de Angelis riding. 17th is the Kawasaki ZX10R of Dominic Schmitter. Up next is the Yamaha YZF R1 ridden by Peter Sebestyen. Sebestyen is the fill-in rider for Imre Toth at Toth Yamaha.
Behind Sebestyen, is his team mate, Pawel Szkopek. Correction. Peter Sebestyen is a full-time rider for team Toth. The fill-in for Imre, who stands next to one of his two motorcycles, is indeed Pawel Szkopek. Josh Hook on the Grillini Kawasaki ZX10R starts 20th. Rumors are that Hook could move away from the Grillini team and on to another team, somewhere. Saeed Al Sulaiti is next. He did not qualify for the races in the Netherlands a few weeks ago. Five minutes to go before the start, as the Alfa Romeo 4C safety car, pulls away.
We remember, (as the WSBK races at Imola took place on April 30th and May 1st), the lives, of Roland Ratzenberger, and Ayrton Senna, who both lost their lives, on this very weekend in the Formula 1 San Marino Grand Prix car race, here at Imola. Insofar as tire selection, Chaz Davies has a hard front Pirelli and a softer rear. Today, it's all about personal preference. Everyone on the grid, is running different combinations. Jonathan Rea is using B tires on both ends of the bike. Davide Giugliano using the A tire on both ends. Chaz Davies has the C front tire and the A rear tire. Ducati 1-2 at Imola. We're ready to go racing.
Eight out of 13 doubles have been achieved at Imola. But, there's drama, even before this race starts! We've had a wreck, on the warm up lap before the riders and bikes go onto the grid, for the start! Coming out of the Variante Alta, there are two riders, down and out. Dominic Schmitter is one, and yours truly is not sure who the other rider is. Ah. Peter Sebestyen was the other rider. Sebestyen, appeared to be in pain. In 1991 at the Formula 1 San Marino Grand Prix, Alain Prost, spun his Ferrari off the road, on the warmup lap, here at Imola. Prost, didn't start the race, and that's why he took a year off in 1992, coming back in '93 and winning the World Championship on four wheels.
Lucas Mahias has also been ruled out of action. So, four riders, won't start this race, here at Imola. The start of this race, has been delayed. Davide Giugliano signals to his team, "should I leave the engine running, or shut it off?" Jordi Torres ditches his BMW on the grid, momentarily. Whoops. Apologies. Alex De Angelis, drops his motorcycle. It's embarrassing for the two teams. Last year, 13 riders finished this race (in race two). It is indeed game over for Dominic Schmitter, and for Peter Sebestyen. They won't make the actual start of this race at Imola.
All this action was thought to be in Aqua Minerale, but it isn't. It's at the Variante Alta. With all this ruckus on the grid, some riders, have to make a quick pit stop, for the restroom. When you have to, you have to. Start's delayed. Go for it. It looks like Peter Sebestyen is being taken via ambulance, to the hospital, for a checkup and hopefully he has no serious injuries. In replay, we see Dominic Schmitter flew off his bike, slamming the ground. Then, Sebestyen runs over Dominic Schmitter and Sebestyen, tumbles through the grass, possibly being clipped by his own motorcycle! Ouch!
Race control decides to delay the start of this one, folks. You might as well go to the refrigerator and find something to snack on, or, a cold beverage of your choice, while we sort this mess out. May I suggest, leftover pizza. So many riders are now out of commission for this race. Sylvain Barrier isn't here, as he's recovering from a crash suffered at Motorland Aragon in Spain last time out. Lucas Mahias was hurt this weekend, and so was Sylvain Guintoli of course, as mentioned at the top of this race report. Peter Sebestyen and Dominic Schmitter, will be recuperating during this one, too. So, we have quite a few riders out of action for WSBK race one at Imola.
We have more drama, as Davide Giugliano, motions to his crew, asking, "should I shut off the engine?" ...And, more drama! Jordi Torres ditches the Althea BMW on the starting grid. Whoops. That's Alex De Angelis, on the Aprilia. He was probably a tad flustered. It's got to be embarrassing for Team Toth and Grillini. It can happen. Game over for Sebestyen and Dominic Schmitter. Poor Peter Sebestyen, who went flying over the top of his motorcycle, and was hit by it, coming out of Aqua Minerale.
Riders down the order, could finish in the top ten. We are going to shorten this race, by one lap. It will be 18 laps instead of 19 tours around Imola. Davide Giugliano has to show he can challenge Chaz Davies on race terms. He's got to be ready to take the fight to his Ducati team mate. This will change some tire strategies, slightly. We will use the quick start procedure for this one. 18 laps scheduled. Three minutes from now, we will restart. This is the second straight year a red flag has affected WSBK at Imola. Last year, David Salom crashed at Rivazza, and Jonathan Rea won the race.
Sylvain Guintoli wrecked in Rivazza, and poor Yamaha, as Riccardo Russo and Florian Marino for Yamaha Superstock, and now, Sylvain Guintoli, is hurt. One minute, to the warmup lap. Psych yourself up to race again. It's tough to do. Sylvain Guintoli had a fractured ankle and a concussion. Best wishes to Sylvain Guintoli. We are off on the second warm up lap. It is exciting, for the fans, to get involved and meet the riders in the paddock. Don't cross over the line at the Variante Bassa, because if you cut the corner, you will be penalized and have to wait five seconds, before you can properly rejoin the speedway.
Green flag at the back. We should race, now. We see gaps in the grid where Peter Sebestyen and Dominic Schmitter, should have been. Now, w are indeed ready to race, World Superbike style, at Imola! Red lights out! Go! Jonathan Rea is a rocket off the start, and is splitting the two Ducati's headed for Tambarello. Chaz Davies leads on the Ducati. But, Davide Giugliano on the sister Ducati is swallowed up by both Kawasaki Racing Team riders. It's an early battle between Honda and BMW. Michael van der Mark, vs. Markus Reiterberger. Into Tosa, Giugliano wants by Rea, as we watch Jordi Torres move to sixth on the Althea BMW.
Torres runs right behind Lorenzo Savadori at this point. Nicky Hayden runs in front of Leon Camier. They fly through Piratella corner. If he's held up by Tom Sykes, Davide Giugliano will get impatient. Sykes was disrupted on Friday, with rear brake problems. Chaz Davies wants to open a gap and pull away from Sykes, and his team mate. Leon Camier moves to seventh on the MV Agusta. No riders jumped the start. Phew! That's a relief. Chaz Davies is a half a second quicker than Jonathan Rea on lap one, running a 1:47.2. Lorenzo Savadori stays fifth, where he started. But, he is gaining on the trio of second, third, and fourth, including Rea, Sykes, and Giugliano.
Jordi Torres is sixth as the riders run through Variante Alta. We look at a battle behind Jordi Torres. He leads the scrap for the back half of the top ten, also featuring Camier, Hayden, Michael van der Mark, and Reiterberger. Eleven through to fifteen, it is Alex Lowes, Xavi Fores, Matteo Baiocco, Alex De Angelis, and, Josh Brookes. Rea is 7/10ths of a second behind Davies, and piling on the pressure. Davies sets fastest lap so far at 1:46.716. Tom Sykes has had all sorts of trouble this weekend, as documented. So, he is surely playing catch up right now. Everyone else is in damage limitation mode, as Chaz Davies says, "see ya!" to his competition.
Davies has now run two consecutive laps at 1:46.7. Leon Camier on the MV Agusta gave the marque it's best ever WSBK finish at Assen, last time out. He is having a good run in race one at Imola, so far. Camier closes on Torres, and Torres, on Savadori. It's Aprilia vs. BMW vs. MV Agusta. Nicky Hayden's Honda is also coming, and fast. Look out, Leon Camier. "The Kentucky Kid", will soon be on your tail. Hayden's team mate Michael van der Mark isn't far behind either. Josh Brookes has also made a pass on Alex De Angelis. The two Milwaukee BMW's of Josh Brookes and Karel Abraham, run 14th and 16th.
Tom Sykes is falling into a hole, in points, behind team mate Jonathan Rea, like he did last year at this time. He is 58 points behind, while in 2015, he had a 67 point gap to make up. That's a big mountain to climb, this early in the season. Rea tries closing on Davies as we work lap six of 18. We are a third of the way through this race. Halfway on lap nine, is just three laps from now. Savadori, Torres, and Camier, are now running right together. Nicky Hayden, soldiers on, in eighth, but is losing ground to the three aforementioned riders. Leon Camier takes a wide, sweeping line, making a big mistake, out of Tosa corner.
There's a big drop between Piratella and Aqua Minerale. If you walk the track without any action, you can hear animals all around, as you are in the middle of a park. A steep climb to Variante Alta, and a big drop again, to Rivazza. There is a church off to the right of that corner. There are houses, and a restaurant, right outside the track. At Imola, you can watch the races, from your house, if you like. Lorenzo Savadori looks the wrong way, and, zoom! Jordi Torres, passes him, like he was tied to a fence post. So does Leon Camier. A double whammy for Savadori. These boys are just about to lap Poland's Pawel Szkopek, who we also saw race last time out, in Holland.
Jonathan Rea is closing the gap to Chaz Davies. Rea is very close to putting in a new lap record. Davies and Rea are three seconds clear of Tom Sykes. Giugliano is languishing in fourth as the poplar seeds fly. Only one Italian rider has won in WSBK at Imola. Michele Fabrizio did so, in 2009. As we approach halfway, some battles are simmering all over the track. We watch Nicky Hayden chasing down Lorenzo Savadori. Davide Giugliano must know that Jordi Torres and Leon Camier, are both catching him. Oh boy. Jonathan Rea has had an off course excursion, at turn seven. This can't be good.
Into Tosa, he runs wide, onto the grass. Tom Sykes is going to be right behind his Kawasaki team mate. Meanwhile, Chaz Davies whistles off into the distance, with four seconds in hand. He says mille grazie to his competition. Davies had been putting pressure on Rea, and running wide into Tosa, he's lost 3.7 seconds. Sykes is trying to catch Rea as they run through Rivazza. Lorenzo Savadori is passed by Michael van der Mark. Game over for Saeed al-Sulaiti on the Pedercini Kawasaki. Now, we have the Honda team mates battling each other. Markus Reiterberger on the Althea BMW passes Xavi Fores on the Barni Racing Ducati.
Matteo Baiocco is also catching up with this group. He is riding the #151 VFT Racing Ducati. We hope to see Fabio Menghi (the regular rider for that team), back in action, at the next Italian race of the season, at Misano Adriatico, a bit later on. Now it is Yamaha vs. BMW as Markus Reiterberger looks to pass Alex Lowes. Reiterberger passes the Yamaha into Rivazza. But... it's all for naught as he runs way wide, into the gravel trap! Stay in the saddle, Markus! He's sprayed gravel dust all over his Pirelli tires. It's easy to overshoot the Rivazza chicanes. Seven laps remain in race one, but, don't go away. Immediately after this, we follow on to the Sunday race.
Hayden and van der Mark on the Honda's head another group of riders, with Alex Lowes pushing hard to make up ground. Lorenzo Savadori, meanwhile, has fallen down the order quite a bit. Jordi Torres, meanwhile, has passed Davide Giugliano. Leon Camier on the MV Agusta is now gaining on Giugliano. Leon Camier is coming, and fast. He wants to get MV Agusta to the sharp end of this championship. We've got rumors already flying for 2017. Will Tom Sykes continue with Kawasaki? Giugliano has to show more to keep his ride. Alex Lowes was rumored to be moving to Tech3 Yamaha in MotoGP, and also, Marco Melandri might move to Yamaha in WSBK.
We've seen the same thing in MotoGP. More racing from their end, coming up here on 2 Wheelin' too. Stay tuned, folks. Leon Camier passes Davide Giugliano under braking. Lap 14 of 18. Five laps left, with Chaz Davies in a large lead. Davies leads by 5.5 seconds. Rea slides through Tambarello. Rea hits the metal curb into Variante Bassa. The metal curbs are for motorcycle racing, and not used for car races. Chaz Davies has checked out. He's topped every session so far, and on the 90th anniversary of Ducati, he could win from pole at Imola. The Tifosi will go crazy. Jonathan Rea is suffering from a major lack of rear grip.
Rea struggles and Tom Sykes is the more comfortable Kawasaki rider. Tosa and Variante Alta will be good passing places. From seventh through twelfth, we've got a dandy of a battle going on, featuring Nicky Hayden and Michael van der Mark on the factory Honda's. Lorenzo Savadori on the Aprilia is next, followed by Alex Lowes on the Yamaha, and also, Xavi Fores and Matteo Baiocco. Will Tom Sykes pass Jonathan Rea in the last three laps of race one? Sykes may have to force the issue. The two factory Kawasaki's approach the lapped motorcycle, of Pawel Szkopek, on the Team Toth Yamaha. These boys are going to catch Szkopek into Tosa. It should be interesting.
Szkopek does the wise thing, and does not challenge, moving aside, for the leaders to pass. Nicky Hayden and company, are still battling, all the way down to 12th with Matteo Baiocco back there. Matteo Baiocco has caught this bunch, and is right behind Xavi Fores. We have Hayden, van der Mark, Savadori, Lowes, Fores, and Baiocco, all racing together. Oh boy. Leon Camier has been off the road. This allows Davide Giugliano to pass. van der Mark has passed Nicky Hayden, and now, these boys are going to catch Leon Camier and eat him alive.
Well, maybe not. Camier now looks to have the MV Agusta back on the button. Tom Sykes has to take advantage of Jonathan Rea riding defensively. Rea has to defend for one more lap. Michael van der Mark passes Nicky Hayden, and might make an impression on Leon Camier. It's the last lap, and it looks like Chaz Davies is going to win this race, for Ducati, at home. Alex Lowes passes Xavi Fores. Jonathan Rea is ahead of his team mate going from Tosa to Piratella. No matter what happens in Sunday's race two, Jonathan Rea will maintain his points lead. Sykes tries to make a move into Variante Alta, but isn't close enough.
Chaz Davies is going to win. Chaz Davies wins race one at Imola! The Tifosi go nuts! Rea beats Sykes. Fourth for Jordi Torres and his best finish, as well as BMW's best result, so far this season. Giugliano fifth, Camier sixth, van der Mark, seventh. Savadori comes home eighth, followed by Hayden and Fores, the top ten.
World Superbike Race 1: #7 Chaz Davies GBR. Ducati 1199 Panigale R
Davide Giugliano is 19.9 seconds, behind Davies, at the finish. Sunday's race two, is on deck. Davies has his third 2016 win, and the twelfth of his career. Josh Brookes finishes 14th on the Milwaukee BMW. Alex De Angelis, picks up a point. Ducati are definitely improving. Davies had a bad race at Assen, with a second, and a fifth. Jonathan Rea is very consistent with his points finishes. Tom Sykes can be satisfied with this result, as the air horns honk, to salute the riders. We send best wishes to Sylvain Guintoli, recovering in the hospital, here in Imola.
The Ducatisti (as opposed to the Tifosi for Ferrari), are loving this! Race two, coming your way, next. Chaz Davies has a good relationship with his chief mechanic, Alberto Colombo, just as it is for Per Arriba, Jonathan Rea's Kawasaki chief mechanic.
Following a dominant Davies performance on Saturday, will Chaz Davies and Ducati, do another double? We've had something like nine double race winners at Enzo E Dino Ferrari, since 2001. The most famous WSBK battle at this palace of speed, was in 2002 between now legendary riders, Troy Bayliss and Colin Edwards. Weather conditions show an air temperature of 16 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit), and track temperature at 21 degrees Celsius (69 degrees Fahrenheit). Jonathan Rea will have a comfortable championship lead headed to the next race.
Racing in Italy, is not just about great food (pizza, pasta, gelato ice cream), but, it's about passion, with names like Ferrari, Maserati, Ducati, MV Agusta, and Aprilia. Ducati has been trying to replace green, with red, as the color of World Superbike 2016. Can Kawasaki come back in race two at Imola, and paint the town green? We'll see. The Ducatisti sure hope not. We had an all British podium in the Saturday race. So, British riders, have scored 502 podium finishes in WSBK history. MV Agusta has already had to withdraw a couple allocated engines. You get seven for the season, and they had to use an eighth motor, last year. They've withdrawn their second and fourth motors from the allocation.
The MV Agusta has to be the fourth best bike on the grid, behind the Kawasaki, the Ducati, and the Honda. The only thing lacking in the MV Agusta 1000 F4 is top end power. Xavi Fores had a fire on his bike in free practice on Friday, going into Piratella corner. Let us hope we don't get rain. Five minutes before pit lane closes, and the bikes are headed for the grid, for the sighting lap and the warmup lap. Alex Lowes is pleased with the progress for Pata Yamaha. Will Yamaha have to replace Sylvain Guintoli with another rider for the next race in Malaysia at the Sepang circuit?
Rumors continue to fly that Tom Sykes' relationship with Jonathan Rea and Kawasaki, is souring. He wants to work in a better environment where the team can be more accommodating to him. Does this mean he may sign for Ducati in the future? Chaz Davies has shown his strength over the rest of the field. Has Kawasaki found a solution after Saturday? Will Davide Giugliano run better? Again, more tumors. Alex Lowes could race for Tech3 Yamaha in MotoGP. Marco Melandri has been linked to a deal with PATA Yamaha in World Superbike. Former WSBK champion, (in 2003), Neil Hodgson (who manages Alex Lowes), claims his moving to Tech3 is complete rubbish.
Once again, Lorenzo Savadori starts fifth on the grid on the Aprilia. This (along with the same position and the same result in race one yesterday), is Aprilia's best qualifying effort of the 2016 season to date. Savadori won in Superstock 1000 here last year, en route to the class title. That is a race, you will read about here on 2 Wheelin', later in the week. Stay tuned. Jordi Torres is ready to race, and he had his maiden WSBK podium here, in race two, for Aprilia, last year. But, the BMW needs to gain more speed. Josh Brookes is still struggling on the Milwaukee BMW. Giugliano has his 24th front row start. That puts him level with Akira Yanagawa and Eugene Laverty.
MotoGP racer Jack Miller, is here, as a guest or a fan, this weekend, and has caught up with Nicky Hayden, to have a chat, before the race. Markus Reiterberger starts eighth. The Honda riders have struggled this weekend. Matteo Baiocco rolls off tenth. Xavi Fores starts 12th to match the number on his motorcycle. In 13th, Alex Lowes. After his horrid crash, Sylvain Guintoli, was indeed injured. He should recover, before the next race. Details, at the close of this race. Sylvain Guintoli has been very solid this year so far.
Alex De Angelis is 16th. He had to have surgery on his right bicep in Faenza, Italy. Dominic Schmitter will race after that horrid incident in race one. He had back pain. Peter Sebestyen will not race in race two. Loris Baz from MotoGP is here. He had a good career in WSBK starting 61 career races, earning two wins, and 14 podiums. Baz used to be Tom Sykes' Kawasaki team mate. Peter Sebestyen hurt his left foot in yesterday's crash. It's been stitched up. But he is not fit to start this second race and will have to watch. Roman Ramos also crashed earlier in the weekend. So, sadly, "Mr. Consistency", as he is known, won't race at Imola.
Ramos' replacement is Italian Gianluca Vizziello, for Go11 Kawasaki, as we look at Pawel Szkopek, starting 18th on one of the Team Toth Yamaha's. Vizziello did not qualify for Saturday. But, he will race today, after being in the 107% limit in qualifying. Josh Hook is 19th. If we get a race of high attrition, there could be some points scored. 13 riders finished race two at Imola last year. Saeed Al Sulaiti is 20th. The aforementioned Gianluca Vizziello is 21st. Vizziello has run in the FIM Endurance World Championship this year. He made his WSBK debut though, way back in 2005. The engines are fired. We have a Ducati 1-2 in the team's home round at Imola.
Can Giugliano finish closer to Davies, this time? Can Davies do the double? Before yesterday, Davies had never led a lap at Imola, and it was a lights to flag win. What will Sunday hold in store? Stand by, for action, coming up in minutes. Jonathan Rea has done the double, twice here at Imola over the past two years. He did it for Honda in 2014 and Kawasaki in 2015. Ducati has won on their home track, the most. They have 14 wins while Honda has seven, and Kawasaki, four. The whole field ran with different Pirelli tire combinations in the Saturday race. More uniformity in tires, is present, for Sunday.
At post time, the air temperature is 16 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit), the track temp is 22 degrees Celsius (71 degrees Fahrenheit). Both Ducati's run on the harder front and rear tires. We are ready to bring the action, in race two. Can Davies make it nine doubles since 2001 here at Imola? We're about to find out, together. Go! Race two is on! Davies has the advantage, and Jonathan Rea gets a good start as Davide Giugliano fires his way to the front! Davies in the middle, Giugliano on the outside as we come to Tambarello for the first time. Rea splits the two Ducati's. Sykes is dropping down the order, and Luca Savadori on the Aprilia is coming up to the sharp end, too.
Davide Giugliano is now fifth as the riders enter the Villeneuve chicane. Nicky Hayden has also made his way into the top six. Alex Lowes is also moving up. We should have a 19 lap race for race two. Tom Sykes is now pushing Jonathan Rea already. Leon Camier goes inside Nicky Hayden coming through Rivazza. Matteo Baiocco is trying to make a move on Alex De Angelis. Josh Brookes has gone off the road as he was fighting with Alex De Angelis. Vizziello has also made a good start, to be right behind Josh Brookes.
Michael van der Mark has Jordi Torres all over him. Torres wanted to make a move through Aqua Minerale. He couldn't do it. Tom Sykes is doing his best, to get by Jonathan Rea as well. Rea has the speed. But the line through the corner, makes it harder to pass. Davies leads as Sykes is right behind Rea. Davide Giugliano is much faster and is gaining on the Aprilia with Savadori in the seat. Michael van der Mark once again, has his hands full, with Jordi Torres. Karel Abraham and Gianluca Vizziello are now down at the back of this field. Karel Abraham has crashed out of this race. Bad luck for the Milwaukee BMW rider.
Josh Hook has also crashed, and so has Gianluca Vizziello. Poor old Josh Hook, has had a bad season so far. Sykes tries to keep Rea at bay, but Davies is getting away. He is motoring and is really going for it. Xavi Fores has passed Matteo Baiocco, and Jonathan Rea cannot slow down through the Variante Bassa as Davies rockets away. Giugliano, Lowes, Reiterberger, Camier, Hayden, Torres, van der Mark, Fores, Baiocco, De Angelis, and Brookes, complete the top fifteen. Down the order, we have synchronized crashing.
Vizziello and Brookes both crash at the same time out of Rivazza. Synchronized crashing, here at Imola and Pawel Szkopek also nearly got collected. We saw a lot of gravel thrown down during the World Supersport race, a race you will hear about, later on, perhaps, tomorrow. So, stay tuned for that as it's equally as wild when the 600cc bikes and riders come out to play. Poor old Gianluca Vizziello had very little time to get acclimated to the circuit. So, no wonder he didn't start this race off on the right foot. Davies starts pulling away from the two Kawasaki riders, who have had several issues this weekend.
Alex Lowes is surely catching Lorenzo Savadori, and Davide Giugliano. Reiterberger is sliding the rear tire and Leon Camier is gaining. Reiterberger's BMW team mate Jordi Torres has also had great pace. Through the Variante Bassa, the riders complete another lap. Jonathan Rea is fastest of all in terms of top speed at 286 kilometers per hour (178 miles an hour). Savadori, Giugliano, and Lowes, are in their own battle, and then, so are Reiterberger, Hayden, Camier, and Torres. Giugliano flicks the Ducati through Aqua Minerale. It is hard to retrieve crashed bikes here at Imola, because unlike more modern circuits, there isn't a service road around the perimeter of the speedway.
This is an old school track. There's no question. Giugliano slices by Savadori. Giugliano defends. The Aprilia RSV is even quicker than the Kawasaki ZX10R. Davies sets fastest lap so far at 1:47.240. Rea and Sykes are still battling. Jonathan Rea has a HUGE wiggle, and almost ditches the bike, surely! He was jolly lucky to stay in the saddle that time! Save of the century. His motorcycle, turned into a bucking bronco! It is now a fight for second between the two green Kawasaki's. Chaz Davies, has once again said, "cheery bye, chaps. I'm outta here!" Davies is on a Sunday cruise, once again.
Some major passing has been going on. Leon Camier passes Markus Reiterberger for seventh, and Nicky Hayden gets by Jordi Torres, for ninth. The two BMW riders are surely having to earn their money on this Sunday. Jonathan Rea is still dirt tracking it through Piratella where he had a major moment in Friday practice. We are just 1/3rd through this race and Jonathan Rea already has handling issues with his Kawasaki. Rea has had a major struggle to make the 2016 Kawasaki work the way he wants it to. Will Tom Sykes make a move? Davies has a huge lead, of 3.5 seconds over Jonathan Rea.
Matteo Baiocco has had an off course excursion at Tambarello, and rejoined, but is 15th. He's lost a place to Alex De Angelis as Alex Lowes tries to make a move on Lorenzo Savadori. Davies is now only 3.2 seconds ahead. He has dropped into the 1:48 bracket. Matteo Baiocco has pulled the VFT Racing Ducati into the lane. He's out. He is still subbing for the injured Fabio Menghi. Alex Lowes passes Lorenzo Savadori into the Variante Alta, as Nicky Hayden is the meat in a BMW sandwich. Savadori loses another place, giving way to Leon Camier, and he now finds himself in seventh place. Into Rivazza, Torres wants to dive inside Hayden.
He is setting up, for a pass. Michael van der Mark on the sister factory Honda has fallen four seconds behind these blokes who continue to duke it out from position. We are at the halfway mark, now. Honda has not had the pace we've expected, during this race. No sign of rain now, but there have been dark clouds around all day. Jordi Torres is a very patient person, but, he knows he needs to pass Hayden, ASAP. Torres runs wide. Nicky Hayden slides down the 20 meter hill, which is about 60 feet. Pawel Szkopek has made it into the points as Chaz Davies continues to lead. The gap is down to three seconds between Rea and Davies. We have a mano e mano fight between Rea and Davies.
Has Jonathan Rea had another off track incident at Tosa? Davies is up by 5.3 seconds. Rea can't get the motorcycle slowed down into the Variante Alta. With seven laps remaining, Sykes has to take advantage of this. But, catching is one thing, and passing, is something, completely different. Pawel Szkopek has lost two spots, and is under investigation, by the stewards. Has he cut a chicane someplace? Szkopek is running behind Dominic Schmitter. Saeed al Sulaiti is also back there. Jordi Torres and Nicky Hayden have both passed Markus Reiterberger. Rea just have not found the balance of his motorcycle.
Matteo Baiocco moves out of Chaz Davies' way. Six laps left. Sykes' last lap is quicker than Jonathan Rea, just factoring in the two factory Kawasaki riders. 1:47.550 for Sykes, vs. 1:47.796 for Rea. Reiterberger loses a spot to his team mate, and Jordi Torres wants by Lorenzo Savadori. Leon Camier is slicing through the pack and has passed Alex Lowes for fifth. The MV Agusta is really improving as a motorcycle at this point. With five laps left, it may truly be game over for Matteo Baiocco who has pulled into pit lane. Pawel Szkopek faces a ride through penalty, and so, he'll come through the longest pit lane on the WSBK calendar. He will have to cruise through the lane at 60 kilometers an hour (37 miles an hour).
Davies leads with four and a half laps left, leading by 5.5 seconds. Tom Sykes is putting personal best sector times in all the time, but can't catch Rea. Davide Giugliano remains fifth. Torres is catching Savadori. Torres might catch them. We'll see. He is not close enough to Savadori into Aqua Minerale. Szkopek will take his ride through penalty. Torres said the BMW does not work on a full fuel load or with new tires. It is better in the second stage. Josh Brookes is fighting through the field, running a lonely 13th place. Brookes is learning how to ride the bike. In British Superbike, where he comes from racing, there are no electronic aids allowed on the motorcycle. That's what he is used to. So, it is hard, to manipulate the traction control, that is seen here in WSBK.
Again, Davies is cruising, and he'll take ten points out of Jonathan Rea's points lead headed to the next race. Two laps left. Jonathan Rea has yet to finish off the podium this season. Davide Giugliano will finish in the top four. Now, it is the last lap. Giugliano had a problem in race one on Saturday. But, today, on Sunday, it's a better result. It is the last lap, and it's been a cakewalk for Chaz Davies. Two fast laps, and he'll take two wins here, too. Jonathan Rea will maintain second spot as Saeed Al Sulaiti runs wide. Ducati wins race two, and does the double! The Ducatisi will go nuts!
Poor old Lorenzo Savadori has finished 11th. He had a really bad last lap, losing ten seconds. He stopped on the front straight. Davies dominates at Imola!
World Superbike Race 2: #7 Chaz Davies GBR. Ducati 1199 Panigale R
Chaz Davies, has done the double. We have had nine doubles here at Imola since 2001. Ducati has won four races this year. The team welcomes their man home, and is ecstatic! The next race happened at the Sepang Circuit, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for World Superbike. Coverage, will come, soon. Stay tuned.
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